NEW YORK—Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo, the Philippines’s permanent representative to the United Nations, recently addressed the Third Committee of the General Assembly in its opening session, as he highlighted the country’s commitment to promote, protect and fulfill the human rights of all persons.
“We seek to ensure a safe and secure environment where human rights and fundamental freedoms are enjoyed by every Filipino, free from crime and the evil of illegal drugs,” Manalo pointed out, as he called for an end to the weaponization and politically motivated use of human rights, while underscoring the importance of constructive multilateral cooperation and genuine dialogue toward effective promotion and protection of human rights for all.
Emphasizing the impacts of the pandemic on vulnerable persons, the ambassador said “[the pandemic] presents us with a human crisis of unprecedented scale. It has disproportionately impacted women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, migrants, refugees, indigenous peoples and other vulnerable populations.”
He then proceeded to outline the laws and policies as well as initiatives and activities undertaken by the Philippines to protect the most vulnerable populations, including the First 1,000 Days Law, the Children in Situation of Armed Conflict Law, the Migrant Repatriation Program for overseas Filipinos, and the conditional cash transfer program, otherwise known as 4Ps.
Manalo also spoke about the leadership role of the Philippines at the UN on the issues of gender equality and the promotion and mainstreaming of the rights, needs and well-being of older persons and those with disabilities.
He sought the support of delegations to the Philippine-led resolutions on violence against women migrant workers, trafficking of women and girls, and the inclusive development for and with persons with disabilities, which have consistently been adopted without a vote at the Third Committee.
Said committee, which began its work on October 5, is mandated to discuss social, humanitarian and human-rights issues. DFA
Image credits: New York PM/DFA
